Final
Human Rights Council
Twenty-ninth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Geneva, 15 June 2015
Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák
Comprehensive study of the human rights situation of Roma worldwide,
with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism
Statement on behalf of the Council of Europe
by Mr Ulrich Bunjes
Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma Issues
Mr Vice-President,
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe has asked me to express our profound gratitude for the excellent report on the human rights situation of Roma provided by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Ms Izsák.
As the report rightly states, Europe is the continent with the strongest Roma population worldwide, and with some of the most acute problems faced by Roma. The Council of Europe started to develop its strategy and instruments for the promotion of Roma more than 40 years ago. Today, the “Strasbourg Declaration on Roma” of 2010 embodies our strategy on Roma inclusion.
Our Organisation fully shares the analysis presented to you by the Special Rapporteur. Let me mention two aspects in particular:
To conclude, we thank the rapporteur for the excellent report, and the Human Rights Council for this important initiative to address one of the most dramatic political and social issues today.